4.5/5 Stars

I absolutely loved Gwen and Xander! They are phenomenally written main characters, having insecurities and flaws that make them relatable for the reader. Their individual growth and the progression of their relationship throughout the story was so well written, that you couldn’t help but want the best for both of them. It was almost poetic, in a way, to show the progression of their relationship in the form of music. It was an interesting way to portray a love story, and one that I feel like payed off as it created such a unique story that felt fresh and new.
I absolutely loved this book! I wish life hadn't got in the way because once I got back into this book, I literally couldn’t put it down. I mean, the cello scene?!!!!? Aaah! So so good! Had me kicking my feet in the air mid-chapter lol.

Read if you Enjoy:
Contemporary Romance
Rivals to Lovers
He Falls First
Found Family
Dual POV (mainly fmc)

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever for and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It's official - Julie Soto has joined the ranks of my all-time favorite authors. No one writes a love story like her. The longing. The tension. That. Cello. Scene.

I loved the small nods to Forget Me Not and cannot wait to read what she releases next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to do love this book but for me it fell flat. I DNF-ed at 20%. The book did not hold my attention at all.

Overall, I would say this was good or fine. Gwen, the main character, was sweet but seems so young and naive that it was hard to feel sympathy for her. I often found myself thinking "hmm she can drink?" because she acts like she's only 19 years old. Their relationship was fine but I feel like the best part of the book was the tension and the build up and once that was over I found myself to be a little bored and just trying to finish the story. And you already could predict how this was going to end. The other characters fell flat or were all over the place that I didn't truly care. 3/5

I can not handle how much I LOVED this book! Julie Soto gets better and better with every book.

I loved the romance just as much as I loved the immersion in the NYC orchestra world. This book was so infused with music and love and tension and heart, it was perfection! I loved the rivals to lovers storyline and the fact that Xander fell first and fell harder. I loved the steamy scenes and the emotion behind them. I loved the found family aspects. I loved the cameos from the FORGET ME NOT characters. I could go on and on because I loved so much about this book!

This is one that deserves to be read with instrumental music playing in the background to set the mood. Highly recommend one of Gwen's favorites - Lindsey Stirling!

READ THIS BOOK!

The best kind of stories are the ones that come to life off the page and that exactly what 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 does.

At its baseline, the themes in this aren’t groundbreaking but the characters, settings, and language Soto uses feel like something entirely new. This is the second book of hers I've read and I love that I can tell how much time goes into her research. Be it flowers or music, I'm always learning something new – and I don’t think people realize how rare that is.

From the jump, the dynamic between gwen and xander is filled with this push and pull that feels very every bit like a symphony

There’s tension, there’s emotion - it's a tangible energy between them

And their chemistry? musically, emotionally, physically – off the charts

At its core, not another love song is a story of love and belonging, and finding that validation isn’t a thing that can be gifted, but something you must find within yourself.

This book is for the band geeks, musical nerds, and reylo stans (I see you, I stand with you)

Ali Hazelwood said the cello scene was going to change lives and she was right – I’ll never look at a cello the same way again

Can I play the violin? No. Can I play the cello? No. Am I even the least bit musically inclined? Absolutely not. Did I love every second of this book? 100% yes I did.

This took me by absolute surprise in the best way possible!

I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I started this book. I wasn’t sure about the dynamic between the two characters and how that would play out, but like I said this took me by surprise.

I absolutely ate up all the tension filled moments between Xander and Gwen. I loved the differences in how they were taught their instruments and how it affected their performances and personalities. The contrast between the two couldn’t be bigger, but watching them meld together was pure magic! I loved how they complemeneted one another in every way, and how they also helped heal each other.

I personally never would have imagined a musical instrument to be so attractive, but my brain chemistry has officially been altered after *that* scene!

This was pure perfection all around and I can’t wait for this author’s next installment!

I really enjoyed this read!! Between the orchestra drama and the undeniable tension between Gwen and Xander, I truly could not put it down. I think Julie Soto has a great balance in her narrative style, we flawlessly shift from musical metaphors to short one-liners of comic relief through out the book, and there was no choppiness between tonal (lol) changes. The obsessive nature of career musicians translated really well in the writing style.

I had a knee-jerk reaction and almost DNF'd early on in my read, and I'm really glad I didn't. At first Xander's rude nature really put me off, but after sticking through I could tell Soto had a much better execution of the 'tall, mean guy" character trope (which is pretty popular in contemporary romance, and isn't always done well).

This book is incredibly passionate - I love reads that are this emotionally immersive. It's amazing to read about someone's lifelong hyper-fixation while physically doing my lifelong hyper-fixation. Overall, the romance and drama flowed together so well and was a genuinely hard read to put down! Will definitely recommend!

Perfection.
All the stars.
Go get this book immediately.

Gwen and Xander are both musical prodigies, but each of them has found success in different ways. Gwen had a natural ability and Xander was classically trained from childhood. They work in the same orchestra, but he doesn’t realize it until Gwen plays in his friend’s wedding.

They are initially hostile towards one another, but their onstage chemistry starts to make things shift. They build a delicate romance together, but things don’t go smoothly.

I loved Forget Me Not when it came out last summer, but this book was even more. I could literally feel the angst and tension in my chest as I read it, and once I started I could not set this down. I fell in love with Gwen and Xander, and adored every word of this masterpiece.

Perfect?!! I love Julie Soto and this was so good. This book honestly was the highlight of my April fools day!!

This was an absolutely gorgeous romance!!! I loved the setting, it felt so alive with music - the descriptions were so perfect. I liked the two main characters a lot, and the main conflicts were well written and realistic. And the audiobook was so well narrated!! Highly recommend this one.

🌈Queer rep: Secondary gay man, lesbian woman, MM couple, FF couple.

coming from a music background, I was so excited when I got approved for this book. And it did not disappoint! This book was magic. It was beautiful and Xander and Gwen were SWOONWORTHY. There's the tenderness mixed with the tension that makes for a recipe of perfection and I just loved it.

After reading Forget Me Not, although i didn’t love it, i was still interested in what this author would, and was definitely intrigued by Xander in the scene he was in. I’m glad I gave this book a chance because in my opinion it was an improvement from FMN. Although at times I was frustrated with the FMC’s somewhat naive behavior, and Xander’s attitude was too much for me at times, especially how the infamous third act break up went down. I still preferred the narration and the structure of this book a lot. And while there was a moment where I felt maybe the relationship seemed rushed, I still think it had a pretty satisfying ending.

RATING: 3/5

I liked the musical setting and the tension in NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG but it didn't completely blow me away.

Coming. from someone who grew up playing in wind ensembles and even studied a classical instrument in college, I never realized how much I needed a hot, classical musician romance in my life. And I can confidently say that my life has been changed. I had a great time reading Julie Solo's debut, but holy heck did you step it up with this one. Easily one of my top reads of the year.. The characters, the plot, and how the music was described was beautiful. If you are looking for a story that has a unique premise, tension that you could cut with a knife, and a man who is obsessed with the fmc, then I cannot recommend Not Another Love Song more!!

Wow. This was phenomenal. I’m not ready to leave them yet. I only just finished the book and I already want to go back. Like an addict. I just need one more hit of Alex and Gwen, please I’m begging 😭

The writing, as usual, was so vivid. I’m honestly shocked that I’m head over heels for a 3rd person pov. They usually feel a little detached emotionally, for me at least. But I had zero issues experiencing all the emotions. I am down bad for Alex. Whew that man 🥹🥵 Julie’s imagery is top tier. The characters all feel like real people and I already miss them so much. The character growth too 👏🏼 I only have the highest praise for this book.

I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am for the 24 hour NetGalley release 💗

This book was absolute perfection. I loved these characters and my god the chemistry. Julie Soto seems to be a must-read author for me now. Now can we have this made into a tv series because it would be so hot!!!!! The addition of musicians as main characters was such a unique storyline! Angsty and so steamy!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and this one is my favourite. I loved the orchestra aspect in this book. I enjoy live music and have always been drawn to watching cello players which is an instrument we learn a lot about in the book. I definitely gained a better understanding of the dynamics and etiquette in a professional orchestra. The two main characters are musical prodigies but got to where they are from two very different upbringings. Xander and Gwen had great chemistry and I liked their personal growth as a couple and individually. Overall a story I really enjoyed!

4.5 stars i am SO freaking obsessed!!!

gwen & alex are my babies! put two musical prodigies together and watch their music dance beautifully around the room!!!

after gwen plays a cello at a wedding gig, xander aka alex becomes fixated with her. you see, gwen is a violinist not a cellist. alex is very well known in the musical world and they both play together at the manhattan pops. but while gwen always knew who he was, he never had notified her until now. it’s clear right from the start how captivated alex is with gwen. getting to see both alex and green step out of their comfort zones was everything to me. this book had a lot of dynamic in terms of their music and their career progression as well as their relationship!

alex was giving me major charlie cobalt vibes and i just love him extra for that. watching the two of them create music together was unlike anything i had ever read before and i loved all the emotions that came with it. this book is truly perfect and i read it in one day because i just could not put it down!!

ALSO the cello suite chapters had me even more in love with alex and trust me when i say i ate up ALL the crumbs